Luminaire



F. c. WINKLER ETAL 'LUMINAIRE Filed March 13, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v UIINVENTORS flea aria L, Winkle) 5 Elray W- Yuqyman.

ATTRNEY,

1382.19 1944. wlNKLER. Ell-AL 2,365,614

LUMINAIRE Filed March 13, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 A51 17 a 4a WITNESSES:

' INVENTORS FPede/lc C. WL'nkZerJ Elro%y W. Ymgma ATTOR Y F. c. WINKLER ETALL LUMJ-NAIRE Dec. 19, 1944.

Filed March 13, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .INVENTORS c. Wz'nkler8 0} WI Yunymzzn.

FP'eden'c Elr W ATTOR Y WITNESSES:

. vention will become more Patented Dec. 19, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Frederic C. Winkler and Elroy W. Yungman, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Our invention relates, generally, to luminaires and, more particularly, to enclosed luminaires primarily adapted for commercial lighting and utilizing electric discharge lamps, such as fluorescent lamps, as a source oi light.

The object of our invention, generally stated, is to. provide a luminaire for use with fluorescent lamps which shall be of simple and inexpensive construction and which may be readily assembled, serviced and repaired.

A more specific object of our invention is to provide a luminaire of the character described Application March 13, 1943, Serial No. 479,025 9 Claims. (Cl. 240-78) Fig. 6 is an end view in elevation of a modification of the luminaire of Fig. 1 adapted for ceiling mounting and showing the enclosure in its raised or. closed position; and

wherein an elongated trough-shaped reflector iunctions to hold the lamp holders, lamps, ballast devices, wiring and other accessories for the control and. operation of the lamps and cooperates with a mounting housing for the ballast, wiring and other accessories. g

Another object of the invention is to provide a luminaire of the character described wherein the assembly of reflector, lamp holders, lamps, etc., is supported from the mounting plate in such manner that the reflector assembly may be readily lowered a predetermined distance from the mounting plate to give access to the interior oi the reflector and the equipment mounted therein.

A further object of the invention is to provide for supporting the body or enclosure of the luminaire from the mounting plate in such manner as to normally support the enclosure in its proper operating position and permit the ready opening or removal thereof to expose and give access to the lamps and the reflector assembly.

These and other important objects of our inapparent from the following junction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation, partly broken away to show details, of a luminaire embodying the principal features of our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of the luminaire oi Fig. 1 showing the reflector assembly in its normal or raised position with respect to the mounting plate;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 with the enclosure removed and showing the reflector assembly in its lowered pwition:

Fig. 4 is an end view in elevation of the luminalre of Fig. 1, showing the body or enclosure in its normal position;

Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the enclosure in its open position to give access to the lamps and reflector assembly;

plate to form an enclosure or,

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the enclosure in its open or lowered position.

Referring to Figs. 1 through 5, the luminaire shown is for hanger mounting in spaced relation to a ceiling or other supporting surface, not shown. It comprises, generally, an elongated mounting plate H) which may be attached to the lower ends of the hangers 'II and l2, 9. reflector assembly I 3 and a body or enclosure M.

The mounting plate ill is so formed as to be provided at its ends or corners, at least, with U-shaped depressions or hook portions l5 and I6 and intermediate V-shaped portions I7 and it for a. purpose which will be described more fully hereinafter.

detailed" description. when read in coni The reflector assembly i 3 comprises an'elongated trough-shaped reflector it, a plurality of lamp holders M for supporting the lamps 22 in spaced relation lengthwise of the reflector, ballast devices, of which there are two two-lamp ballast devices 23 and it, wiring and other necessary control accessories for the lamps. In order to simplify the drawings, the wiring of the luminaire is not shown, but it is to be understood that the ballasts and lamp holders are to be connected in the usual manner.

The reflector i9 is so shaped in cross section as to properly position the lamp holders which extend through suitable openings in the flat side portions 25, 2t, 21 and 28, as shown, and also to function in conjunction with the mounting plate ill as an enclosure or housing for the ballasts, lamp holders and wiring.

The enclosure M is generally'V-shaped in cross section and may be of any suitable type. It is preferably constructed in the form of a metallic framework having solid end plates 3! and 32 joined together by upperand lower connecting members 33, 3t, 35, and 36. The framework supports side panels 31 and 38 of glass or any other suitable material. The top of the closure is open and the bottom opening may be closed by means of a lens or panel 39 of glass or other suitable material. If desired, the enclosure may be left open at the bottom or a louver (not shown, but of well known construction) may be used instead of the bottom glass panel 39.

In order to provide for supporting the reflector assembly l3 from the mounting plate 10 in such plate in and which extends downwardly to near the bottom of the reflector, and a cooperating thumb screw 44 which extends upwardly through an opening in the bottom of the reflector. The thumb screw 44 is provided with a threaded boss or shoulder portion 45 which engages a threaded opening 46 in the bottom of the U-shaped member 43. a stem portion 41 which carries a washer 48 and The thumb screw is also provided with which has a. stop pin 49 extending through its end.

As shown in Fig. 2, the threaded portion 45 of the thumb screw is in engagement with the U- shaped member 43 and the reflector assembly is supported in its raised position with its upper edges in engagement with the mounting plate Ill.

The reflector assembly I9 is shown in its lowered position in Fig. 3. It will be readily understood that the reflector assembly may be lowered to this position by disengaging the thumb screws from their U-shaped members 43 and permitting the reflector assembly, to move downwardly until it is stopped by the stem members 41. When in this position, 'suflicient clearance between the.

upper edge of the reflector and the mounting plate is provided to give access to the interior of the reflector for assembly and maintenance pure In order to provide for attaching the enclosure I4 to the mounting plateifl in such manner that it may be readily opened or detached therefrom to give access to the lamps as well as to permit In this instance, the mounting plate 52 is wider in order that the enclosure l4 may be hinged at its upper side or edge instead of intermediate the sides as shown in Fig. 1. Accordingly, the mounting plate 52 is provided with end extensions 53 and 54 each of which are provided with hook portions 55 and 56.

The enclosure I4 is detachably secured to one side of the mounting plate by means of hinge pins 51 which engage the hook portion 55 as shown in Fig. 7.

The enclosure |4 maybe retained in the closed position as shown in Fig. 6 by means of a plurality of spring latch members 58 mounted adjacent the hook portion 55 at each end of the mounting plate. These latch members are disposed to engage suitable openings in the upper edge of the enclosure.

The hinge connection comprises the hinge pins 51 and hoolr portion 55 is such that the enclosure may be detached from the mounting plate 52 by swinging it past the vertical position and disengaging the hinge pins 51 from the hook portion.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be apparent that we have provided a luminaire of simple and inexpensive construction which is so constituted that the reflector and mounting plate function to provide a readily openable housing for the lamp holders, ballasts and wiring. Our luminaire is so constructed that it may be readily installed by simply attaching the mounting plate to the hangers or ceiling and then attaching the heavier reflector assembly to the mounting plate the lowering of the reflector assembly, it isse- :ured to the mounting plate by means of a letachable hinge connection.

With reference to Fig. 4, which shows the enclosure l4'in its closed position, it will be observed that it is supported by means of a plurality of hinge pins 5| which engage the hook portions l5 and N5 of the mounting plate. The hinge pins 5| extend inwardly from the ends of the enclosure and are so spaced and positioned as to retain the enclosure in its proper position when mounted, as shown in Fig. 4. 1 i

The enclosure may be opened by lifting it upwardly to cause the pins 5| to disengage the hook portions and moving it sidewise in either direction until one of the hinge pins at each end engages one of the V-shaped portions l'l or IS in the mounting plate.

As shown in Fig. 5, when this occurs the enclosure |4 may be swung downwardly in a hinging action to expose the reflector assembly, the

enclosure being supported by the mounting plate by only one of each pair of hinge pins 5|. When the enclosure is in this position, it may be readily detached from the mounting plate.

The enclosure may be returned to its raised or normal position by swinging it upwardly and moving it sidewise until the hinge pins 5| again engage the hook portionsl 5 and I6 of the mounting plate. when the enclosure [4 is in the open position, the reflector assembly may be released to its lower position as shown in Fig. 3.

7 The modification shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is substantially the same in principle as that described except that the luminaire of this modification is adapted for ceiling mounting, that is, direct at It will be readily understood that by means of the extensible connectors 42. The feature of providing a reflector assembly which has raised and lowered positions as described not only simplifies the manufacture and installation of the luminaire, but makes it possible to readily and economically maintain the luminaire under the most adverse operating conditions. All of the parts which require maintenance are readily accessible and the enclosure is readily openable and detachable.

While a single luminaire has beenv shown and described, it will be apparent that the structural features of the luminaire of our invention are such as to make it readily usable for strip lighting'purposes wherein a plurality of luminaires are connected in end-to-end relation.

While we have described particular embodiments of our invention, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. A luminaire comprising, an I elongated mounting plate, an elongated reflector assembly mounted beneath the mounting plate, said reflector assembly comprising an elongated troughshaped reflector element with spaced openings in the bottom along its longitudinaI axis and having a plurality of lamp holders mounted at each end thereof for supporting a plurality of elongated tubular lamps on the outside of and lengthwise of the reflector element and a ballast device for the lamps mounted on the interior thereof, a plurality of extensible bracket devices interposed between the mounting plate and reflector assembly for supporting the reflector assembly from the mounting plate in raised and lowered positions, said bracket devices each comprising a U-shaped member having its open ends attached to the bottom of the mounting plate and a threaded opening in its connecting portion at the bottom and a connecting stem extending upwardly 2,865,614 through the spaced opening in the reflector ele- I ment through the threaded opening in the 'ushaped member and having a threaded portion to engage the threaded opening in the U-shaped member, said reflector. assembly being supported in engagement with the mounting plate when in plurality of. tubular lamps lengthwise. thereof and "in spaced relation about the outside thereof,-

and an elongated enclosure for said reflector assembly supported by the mounting plate, said enclosure having inwardly extending pin members on its ends engaging the hook portions of the mounting plate to retain the enclosure ina closed position and permit it to be released to an opened position.

3. A luminaire comprising, an elongated mounting plate adapted to be supportedin spaced relation to a ceiling or other surface, said plate being formed to have hook portions at each of its four corners and a pair of spaced V-shaped portions between each pair of hook portions at the ends, a reflector assembly including a troughshaped reflector and a plurality of lamp holders,

attached thereto at its ends for supporting a plurality of tubular lamps in spaced relation about the outside thereof, and an enclosure for said reflector assembly and lamps, said enclosure having a pair of inwardly extending hinge pins at each erid spaced apart to engage the hook portions of the mounting plate to support the enclosure therefrom, said enclosure being movable including an elongated trough-shaped reflector having spaced openings in the bottom thereof, a plurality of lamp holders mounted at each end thereof for supporting. a plurality of tubular lamps in spaced relation about the reflector and lengthwise thereof and a ballast device for the lamps, said reflector functioning as a housing for the ballast, lamp holders and wiring, a plurality i of extensible 'bracket members comprising U- shaped members attached to the underside of the mounting plate intermediate its endsand cooperating stem members extending through said spaced openings for supporting the reflector assembly therefrom in raised and lowered positions, said raised position being the normal operating position of the reflector assembly, the lowered position giving access to the interior of the reflector, and an enclosure for thereflector assembly having hinge pins on the inside of the reflector engaging the bottom of the mounting plate, an enclosure for said reflector assembly and lamps attached to the mounting plate, said enclosure having an inwardly extending pin member in each end thereof adjacent corresponding corners at one side engaging the hook portions on one side of the mounting plate, and

spring biased catch devices mounted on the hook portions of the mounting plate on the other side thereof disposed to releasably engage the opposite side of the enclosure.

7. A luminaire comprising, an elongated mounting plate adapted to be attached directly to the ceiling or other supporting surface, said mounting plate having upwardly opening hook portions formed at each of its four corners, a

reflector assembly including an elongated reflector element and a plurality of tubular lamps thereof for supporting a plurality of tubular lamps in spaced relation about the reflector and lengthwise thereof and a ballast device for the lamps, said reflector functioning as a housing for mounting plate and openable by a hinging action to give access to the lamps and permit the lowering of the reflector assembly to give access to the interior thereof. 1

5. 'A luminaire comprising, an, elongated mounting plate provided with hook portions at each of its four corners; a reflector assembly the ballast, lamp holders and wiring, means for mounting plateat its opposite side and having spring actuated pin members disposed to engage said spaced openings to releasably retain'the enclosure in a closed position.

, 8. A luminaire comprising, an elongate mounting plate having upwardly opening hook portions at each of, its four corners and at least one indentation at each end intermediate the a plurality of tubular lamps in spaced relation on v the outside thereof, a plurality of extensible bracket members interposed between the mountluminaire comprising, an elongated ing plate and reflector for supporting said reflector assembly from the mounting plate with its side edges in engagement with the bottom thereof and in a lowered position to give access to the interior-of the reflector, and a troughshaped enclosure for the reflector assembly and lamps having a pair of inwardly extending hinge pins ateach' end spaced apart to engage the hook portions on the mounting plate, said enclosure being movablesidewise when raised to disengage the hinge pins from the hook portions to position one hinge pin at each end thereof in the indentations at either end of the mounting plate to permit the enclosure to swing down and expose the reflector assembly. I

9. A luminaire comprising, an elongated relatively flat mounting plate, an elongated relatively deep trough-shaped reflector mounted beneath the mounting plate, said reflector having a substantially symmetrical cross-section and hav-' ing adjacent generally flat longitudinal-side portions, a plurality of lamp holders mounted at the ends of the reflector for supporting a plurality of tubular lamps lengthwise and on the outside thereof along the generally flat side portions, and a plurality of extensible bracket members interposed between the mounting plate and the reflector operable to support the reflector from the mounting plate in raised and lowered positions, each of said bracket members including a ushaped support member having its free ends attached to the lower side of the mounting plate and having a threaded opening in the opposite end thereof and a cooperating stem member extending through the bottom of the reflector and said threaded opening for supporting it in lowered and-raised positions, said reflector when in its raised position having its upper longitudinal edges in engagement with the bottom surface of the mounting plate to provide a housing for the electrical wiring and other control accessories of the luminaire.

FREDERIC C. WINKLER. ELROY W. YUNGMAN. 

